9838244

Compound Alarms

PublishedDecember 5, 2017
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
15 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A method of generating a computing alarm, comprising: determining whether a new instance of an element has been added to a computing network, wherein the computing network comprises a plurality of elements and the computing network is to be monitored, wherein the element comprises a physical or logical element communicatively coupled to a monitoring node via the computing network and wherein the new instance of the element comprises a new connection of the element to a resource of the computing network; determining a hierarchical position of the new instance of the element within a network topology; creating alarm thresholds for the new instance of the element that are inherited from parent nodes of the new instance of the element, wherein the alarm thresholds are based upon another element sharing access to the resource associated with the new connection; determining identities of peer elements of the new instance of the element, wherein a peer element has one or more parent or grandparent nodes in common with the new instance of the element; determining identities of other elements of the system that are using the resource associated with the new connection; determining existing alarms of the peer elements of the new instance of the element; modifying alarms of the other elements using the resource associated with the new connection to take into account demands of the new connection; and automatically creating alarm thresholds for the new instance of the element that are equivalent to the existing alarms of the peer elements, wherein the alarm thresholds are usable to: monitor a characteristic of the elements in the computing network; compare the monitored characteristic to the alarm thresholds; and in response to determining the monitored characteristic exceeds the alarm thresholds, provide an indication that an alarm has been triggered.

Plain English Translation

A method for automated computer alarm generation monitors a computer network comprised of multiple interconnected elements. When a new network element instance connects to a shared resource, the system identifies its position in the network topology. It sets initial alarm thresholds for the new element based on thresholds inherited from its parent nodes. It also identifies peer elements (sharing common ancestor nodes) and other elements using the same resource. Existing alarms of peer elements are analyzed, and alarms of other elements using the shared resource are adjusted to account for the new element's demands. Finally, the system creates alarm thresholds for the new element equivalent to its peers' alarms. These thresholds monitor element characteristics, trigger alarms when exceeded, and provide an alert indication.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the new instance of the element comprises adding the element to a portion of the computing network.

Plain English Translation

The method for automated computer alarm generation, as described where new alarm thresholds are automatically created when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, also encompasses scenarios where the new element instance results from simply adding an existing element to a specific part of the network.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising automatically updating another alarm threshold based upon the automatic creation of the alarm threshold.

Plain English Translation

The method for automated computer alarm generation, as described where new alarm thresholds are automatically created when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, also includes automatically updating other alarm thresholds in response to the creation of the initial alarm threshold for the new element.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein modifying alarms of the other elements using the resource associated with the new connection to take into account demands of the new connection comprises adding a condition associated with usage of the new instance of the element to existing alarms of the other elements, and wherein the method further comprises determining capacity of the shared resource.

Plain English Translation

The method for automated computer alarm generation, as described where new alarm thresholds are automatically created when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, involves modifying alarms of other elements sharing the resource. This modification includes adding a condition related to the new element's resource usage to their existing alarms. Furthermore, the method also incorporates determining the overall capacity of the shared resource when adjusting alarm conditions.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, comprising computer-executable instructions carried on the non-transitory computer readable medium, the instructions readable by a processor and, when read and executed, configured to cause the processor to: determine whether a new instance of an element has been added to a computing network, wherein the computing network comprises a plurality of elements and the computing network is to be monitored, wherein the element comprises a physical or logical element communicatively coupled to a monitoring node via the computing network and wherein the new instance of the element results from a new connection of the element to a resource of the computing network; determine a hierarchical position of the new instance of the element within a network topology; create alarm thresholds for the new instance of the element that are inherited from parent nodes of the new instance of the element, wherein the alarm thresholds are based upon another element sharing access to the resource associated with the new connection; determine identities of peer elements of the new instance of the element, wherein a peer element has one or more parent or grandparent nodes in common with the new instance of the element; determine identities of other elements of the system that are using the resource associated with the new connection; determine existing alarms of the peer elements of the new instance of the element; modify alarms of the other elements using the resource associated with the new connection to take into account demands of the new connection; automatically create alarm thresholds for the new instance of the element that are equivalent to the existing alarms of the peer elements; monitor a characteristic of the elements in the computing network; compare the monitored characteristic to the alarm thresholds; and in response to determining the monitored characteristic exceeds the alarm thresholds, provide an indication that an alarm has been triggered.

Plain English Translation

A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions that, when executed by a processor, implement automated computer alarm generation. The instructions cause the processor to monitor a computer network, identify new network element instances connecting to shared resources, and determine their hierarchical position. It creates alarm thresholds for the new element based on inherited parent node values and other elements sharing access to the resource. The system identifies peer elements and other elements utilizing the shared resource. The instructions further enable the processor to analyze existing peer element alarms, modify alarms of other elements using the shared resource, and then establish alarm thresholds for the new element equivalent to its peers' alarms. The system monitors element characteristics, compares them against thresholds, and triggers alarms when thresholds are exceeded, providing an alert.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The medium of claim 5 , wherein the new instance of the element results from adding the element to a portion of the computing network.

Plain English Translation

The non-transitory computer-readable medium for automated computer alarm generation, as described where the instructions automatically creates alarm thresholds when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, also addresses scenarios where the new element instance is simply due to adding an existing element to a specific section of the network.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The medium of claim 5 , further comprising instructions for causing the processor to automatically update another alarm threshold based upon the automatic creation of the alarm threshold, wherein the another alarm threshold comprises an alarm threshold of a peer group of elements or a parent or a grandparent element of the element.

Plain English Translation

The non-transitory computer-readable medium for automated computer alarm generation, as described where the instructions automatically creates alarm thresholds when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, also includes instructions for automatically updating other alarm thresholds following the creation of the new element's alarm threshold. These other updated thresholds can belong to peer groups, parent nodes, or grandparent nodes of the new element.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The medium of claim 5 , wherein automatically creating the alarm threshold is further based on a position of the element within a network topology.

Plain English Translation

The non-transitory computer-readable medium for automated computer alarm generation, as described where the instructions automatically creates alarm thresholds when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, also creates the alarm threshold based on the position of the element within the network topology, implying that the specific thresholds are adjusted based on where the element exists within the network's hierarchy.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The medium of claim 5 , further comprising instructions for causing the processor to determine a capacity of the shared resource, and wherein modifying alarms of the other elements using the resource associated with the new connection to take into account demands of the new connection comprises adding a condition associated with usage of the new instance of the element to existing alarms of the other elements.

Plain English Translation

The non-transitory computer-readable medium for automated computer alarm generation, as described where the instructions automatically creates alarm thresholds when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, further includes instructions for determining the capacity of the shared resource. Modifying alarms of other elements using the shared resource involves adding a condition to their alarms based on the new element's resource usage.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. An apparatus for generating an alarm in a computer system, the apparatus comprising: a processor; and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory comprising instructions operable, when executed by the processor, to cause the processor to: determine whether a new instance of an element has been added to a computing network, wherein the computing network comprises a plurality of elements and the computing network is to be monitored, wherein the element comprises a physical or logical element communicatively coupled to a monitoring node via the computing network, and wherein the new instance of the element results from a new connection of the element to a resource of the computing network; determine a hierarchical position of the new instance of the element within a network topology; create alarm thresholds for the new instance of the element that are inherited from parent nodes of the new instance of the element, wherein the alarm thresholds are based upon another element sharing access to the resource associated with the new connection; determine identities of peer elements of the new instance of the element, wherein a peer element has one or more parent or grandparent nodes in common with the new instance of the element; determine identities of other elements of the system that are using the resource associated with the new connection; determine existing alarms of the peer elements of the new instance of the element; modify alarms of the other elements using the resource associated with the new connection to take into account demands of the new connection; automatically create alarm thresholds for the new instance of the element that are equivalent to the existing alarms of the peer elements; monitor a characteristic of the elements in the computing network; compare the monitored characteristic to the alarm thresholds; and in response to determining the monitored characteristic exceeds the alarm thresholds, provide an indication that an alarm has been triggered.

Plain English Translation

An apparatus generates alarms in a computer system. It contains a processor and memory with instructions that, when executed, monitor a computer network for new element instances connecting to shared resources and identifies their hierarchical position. Alarm thresholds are created, inheriting values from parent nodes, considering elements sharing the resource, identifying peer elements and other resource users. It analyzes existing peer alarms, modifies alarms of resource users, and sets the new element's alarm thresholds equivalent to its peers'. The system then monitors element characteristics, compares against thresholds, and triggers alarms when exceeded, providing an alert indication.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising instructions for causing the processor to determine a capacity of the shared resource, and wherein modifying alarms of the other elements using the resource associated with the new connection to take into account demands of the new connection further comprises instructions for causing the processor to add a condition associated with usage of the new instance of the element to existing alarms of the other elements.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus for automated computer alarm generation, as described where new alarm thresholds are automatically created when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, further includes instructions for determining the capacity of the shared resource. Modifying alarms of other elements using the shared resource involves adding a condition to their alarms that corresponds to the resource demands of the new element.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the memory further comprises instructions for causing the processor to automatically update another alarm threshold based upon the automatic creation of the alarm threshold.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus for automated computer alarm generation, as described where new alarm thresholds are automatically created when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, also includes instructions for automatically updating other alarm thresholds following the creation of the initial alarm threshold.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein automatically creating the alarm threshold is further based on a position of the element within a network topology.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus for automated computer alarm generation, as described where new alarm thresholds are automatically created when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, also creates the alarm threshold based on the position of the element within the network topology.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein another element sharing access to the resource with the element has a different parent element.

Plain English Translation

The apparatus for automated computer alarm generation, as described where new alarm thresholds are automatically created when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, considers the scenario in which another element sharing the same resource has a different parent element, implying a complex network topology impacting alarm configurations.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the monitored characteristic comprises shared resource usage of the elements within the computing network and the alarm threshold is triggered by the resource usage exceeding the alarm thresholds.

Plain English Translation

The method for automated computer alarm generation, as described where new alarm thresholds are automatically created when a new network element instance connects to a shared resource and the thresholds for the new element are equivalent to existing alarms of peer elements, defines the monitored characteristic as the shared resource usage of elements within the network. An alarm is triggered when this resource usage exceeds the predefined alarm thresholds.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

December 5, 2017

Inventors

Andrew R. Lawrence
Hugh-John E. Flemming
David L. Ashley

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